The Philippine Online Chronicles

Ipinahayag ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang pagsang-ayon nito ukol sa posibleng pagpapagamot sa ibang bansa ni dating pangulo at kasulukuyang Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Number one, if the medical doctors find it necessary and the Arroyo family would request it from us as humanitarian gesture of course. If there are no medical facilities or medical expertise available in the Philippines, we will not deprive the Arroyo family of getting the best medical attention they can (get),” ani Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sa isang press briefing.

Ayon kay Lacierda, pinahintulutan din umano noon ni dating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos ang ama ni Pangulong Aquino na si Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. na magpagamot sa ibang bansa sa panahon ng Martial law. “So it would be in consonance with the President’s nature to, for humanitarian purposes, allow such travel abroad for medical reasons.”

Nakatakdang sumailalim si Arroyo sa ikatlong operasyon sa susunod na linggo matapos mabigo ang mga naunang isinagawang cervical spine surgery.

Ayon sa doktor ni Arroyo na si Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, nag-ugat sa isang “inherent bone problem” ang problema sa mga naunang surgery sa dating pangulo.

“There is a likelihood the former president has an inherent bone problem affecting the screws of the [spinal] implant,” ani Cervantes. “This poor quality leads to loosening or disgorgement of the implant.”

Nahaharap si Arroyo sa ilang kaso ng plunder sa Department of Justice at kasalukuyang nasa watch list ng Bureau of Immigration.

“The question is very basic: Will we allow her to travel abroad? The answer is, as a humanitarian gesture and if it is really required and recommended by the medical doctors, we will do so. We will allow it,” pahayag ni Lacierda.

Idinagdag din ni Lacierda na “But I think this is all in the realm of speculation because St. Luke’s is saying they can handle the problem.”